Worship – June 7, 2020

Worship – May 31, 2020

OFFERINGSWhile in-person services are suspended and the church office is closed, please consider giving by sending your check to the church office. This will allow the church to continue to pay its expenses. Our mailing address is:McCormick United Methodist ChurchP.O. Box 267McCormick SC 29835

Parable of the Cafeteria

Two counter girls stood at their post of supply in the cafeteria. As they kept the display of foods replaced, they conversed.

One said, “It just aggravates me to watch these hungry wolves snatch up the beautiful salads we have made. I don’t think they see any of the beauty or skill in our work. In a few moments the artistic salad is torn to pieces by their teeth.”

Said the second girl, “I look at it in a different way. It pleases me to think that these hungry people will shortly leave our place feeling stronger and better able to do whatever their work may be. I like to think of our supplying the power, that they use to serve, as a result of eating our food. Each time they take one of my salads I accept it as another person who has voted in favor of my service and one who has been attracted by my display. I consider it a compliment.”

The lives of all humanity are interwoven endlessly. We live in a world of many choices.

As different foods are attractive to different people and each may go forth from the cafeteria having chosen to his satisfaction; so we choose our own happiness by what we see and how we interpret it. The Christian life is ruled by a God of love and a Savior who seeks to bless all who have eyes to see and ears to hear. We live within these blessings and knowing how blessed we are allows us to see the work of Christ in the world. Many times someone that seems to be a burden to us is really a blessing because we are able to share God’s love and grace upon them.

Last Sunday (May 31st) was Pentecost … and we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit. However, we celebrated it by ourselves, in our homes, while watching services online at the MUMC Website.

It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit is with us ALWAYS! We can reach out to the Holy Spirit anytime in prayer and ask for help — for those suffering from illnesses such as COVID-19, for others in the hospitals or rehabs, for those suffering from loss, and for ourselves. And we can pray that soon we will be able to worship together again!!

As of today’s writing, MUMC is planning to start in church services again on Sunday, June 14. I am not sure we know what that Sunday will look like yet. Masks will probably be part of the picture … as well as a way to incorporate ‘social distancing.’ Nevertheless, we can be together again.

But if you are still not sure about gathering in a group or are unable to attend because of health issues and, nevertheless, still need some reassurance … our Stephen Ministers are here to help you. Reach out to us and we will offer one-to-one, confidential help and support … by phone until we are free to meet face to face.

Start by calling Pastor Nels or one of the Stephen Leaders through the church office at (864) 852-2394.

MY EASTER MORNING GODWINKBY EMILEE GROH

I love attending my church — greeting others with smiles, handshakes, and hugs; singing and praying and communicating with my church family. Most of all, hearing God’s Word read and preached in a graphic and meaningful way and worshipping together. Although I am thankful for technology that makes it possible to attend “visible” church, I miss the personal connections.

EASTER – for the first time in my life Easter Sunday Services together could not be. Not even the outdoor Easter Sunrise services I loved so much at Baker Creek Park pavilion overlooking the lake. So I planned my own Easter Sunrise service on my porch bench during sunrise.

As often happens, my “best laid” plans were altered — bed late, so I woke up after the actual sunrise. When I went to my porch at 7:30 AM, the sun had risen to an open spot between the trees. It was glowing so bright — sending its radiance all around it. Deciding to have my service indoors by the window where I could see the sun, I gathered my hymnal, Bible, and devotional materials ready to begin. THEN IT HAPPENED ——

From the window I saw a large black cloud rising in the distance, like the way the sky looks as a big black cloud of smoke rises from a fire. Rushing out to the porch, I saw it was not a fire cloud, but a huge black cloud heading for the sun. Then I noticed how fast the clouds in the sky were moving everywhere across the sky. Behind the house more clouds were coming, not as dark but moving toward the sun — letting only glimpses of small patches of blue sky be seen. I stood on the corner of the porch watching the big dark cloud cover the sun so its light could not be seen. Then I saw it pushed past — by the light it covered. I spent the next half hour watching the clouds moving over, then pushed past the spot where the sun was. No matter how covered it seemed it was still there — pushing the dark clouds through while letting shimmers of light escape the edges and occasionally shining thru the middle. All the time the clouds moving, being pushed on, never being allowed to stay long.

It was like God was saying that the clouds will come and try to engulf us, but even the darkest cloud cannot keep God’s power and light away from us. He will not be blocked out forever. He is there working even when we cannot see his light for a time.

Soon after and for the rest of the day, the sky was overcast, blanketed in white and some rain fell, but God’s message was clear.

God’s promise was visible in the sky that morning. I was blessed to see it and now I share it with you. Emilee Groh

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Kindness Update Pastor Nels reminded us in his Pentecost Sunday sermon of how exciting it is to celebrate the birth of the Church with the coming of the Holy Spirit! He shared that the enthusiasm experienced then is derived from the Greek word meaning “God within us”. As he spoke of the fruits of the Spirit, there we find Kindness, and it’s reassuring to know that this God-given fruit is something we all have within us, and what’s even better, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us to do kind acts for one another! Even as we continue practicing social distancing and other necessary practices with regard to the pandemic, we have been guided by the Holy Spirit to spread many seeds of kindness. Just over the past week, the following were shared with us:

The staff at The McCormick Messenger have continued to be the recipients of Acts of Kindness from friends. Recently, someone purchased paper towels, a precious commodity during this pandemic, and brought them by the office.

I experienced a restaurant waitress sharing her faith with a customer who is caregiver for her aging Mom who has dementia. The waitress kindly shared her similar experience and she encouraged the customer by telling her that God is with her and will help her get through her struggles.

Have you seen God today? If you see God at work this week, there are two ways you can share what you saw!

1) Be a blessing to others by sharing your Act of Kindness (no names please) on our website, or use this link! Then check back each week to learn how others are passing on acts of kindness! The link is https://www.mccormickumc.org/acts-of-kindness

2) There is a Kindness box in the library on the window sill, along with paper and pencil. Share your God-Wink, perhaps someone else will be inspired!

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Upcoming Events

SHREDDING AND DRUG TAKE BACK DAYCHANGED TO JUNE 6, 9AM TO 2PMMUMC CHURCH PARKING LOTDue to the COVID19 and the shelter in place recommendations made by all of our government officials, Shred Day and Prescription Take Back Day have been rescheduled to June 6, 2020.

Sorry for any inconvenience this might cause but we want everyone to remain safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.